Can I get this changed? - Simple question.

[Eric Parker]

In 2002, I was stopped at the Calgary airport at customs and sent back to the US because the Customs officer felt that coming to visit someone I had met 'on-line' was not an appropriate way or moral reason to visit Canada.

Since then, every time I have come through customs at any airport, I have been screened twice by customs before they stamp my passport and send me on my way.

Since I have been to and from Canada many times since then, and never been sent back since, is there a way to erase this 2nd screening requeirement? Or will the PR acceptance/application erase that by itself? Or will I have to be double screened for the rest of my life regardless of the PR (if and when I get a PR)?

[Leon]

Obviously you are flagged in their system.  Have you tried discussing this marker with them and if it's possible to get rid of it?  Recently a woman here was saying that her husband who was living with her in Canada but driving to the US for work was stopped by an IO in a bad mood who told him he shouldn't spend so much time in Canada and flagged him for only being allowed to go to Canada on weekends.  They went and talked to another IO later who said the whole thing was stupid and removed the restriction.  You can also look into getting a Nexus card if you qualify.  It's supposed to make your border crossings easy but because you are red-flagged, maybe you wont get one.

[Eric Parker]

I noticed on-line that the Canadian Border services has a number to speak to an agent. Would this be the prudent way to go? - Ask them now before I travel or wait until I get to the airport in Vancouver?

[Leon]

You can ask them before you travel if you like.  Maybe they will tell you that you should talk to them when you arrive.  I also went to Canada long before I moved there to meet people I knew from online but nobody red-flagged me for it.  I am not even sure they asked.

[Eric Parker]

I just did...and I was told, and rudely I may add, that 'only an act of an actual God could any flag be removed'.

So I guess I could talk to them at the airport, but based on this call, who would want to talk to rude people?

[Leon]

Maybe you got the same one who put the flag there.  Talk to the ones in the airport.  It's worth a try anyway.

[rnbacchus]

Obviously you are flagged in their system.  Have you tried discussing this marker with them and if it's possible to get rid of it?  Recently a woman here was saying that her husband who was living with her in Canada but driving to the US for work was stopped by an IO in a bad mood who told him he shouldn't spend so much time in Canada and flagged him for only being allowed to go to Canada on weekends.  They went and talked to another IO later who said the whole thing was stupid and removed the restriction.  You can also look into getting a Nexus card if you qualify.  It's supposed to make your border crossings easy but because you are red-flagged, maybe you wont get one.

That was me!  From our experience, I would recommend speaking to an IO in person at the border crossing.  It might help if you can provide them with some sort of documentation showing that you enter and leave Canada with no incident (airplane tickets?) or any other kind of evidence that can prove you're an upstanding individual.  Don't get angry with the IO when you go to speak to him/her at the crossing because he/she likely won't want to help you if you get agitated.  Also remember that not all IO's are rude and unhelpful, so try your best to explain your situation calmly and provide all the proof you can to show them there's no valid reason for the flag.

[Eric Parker]

So..do I ask them before or after they stamp my passport?

[rnbacchus]

We asked after.  We crossed by land (Pacific Highway in BC) as normal.  The IO in the booth looked at the weekend-only restriction attached to my husband's passport, asked him when he was leaving and then sent us on our way.  We then parked and went into customs to speak with another IO.  We didn't think the IO in the booth would be interested in reviewing all our documents, seeing as there was a lineup of cars behind us, but it might be different at the airport.

[Eric Parker]

So, if i can't get the marker removed, could it come back to bite me when I ,eventually, get to Land? Even if I get permission to Land, could a Border Official deny me landing based on this marker even though I get permission to land? I do know that I have to see at least two IO's at the border when I get to the point of Landing.

[Leon]

If they approve you for PR, they will not refuse your landing because of the marker.  They will probably stop giving you the 3rd degree after you are PR.  If not, then at least when you become a citizen :)